Shoe-lacing hook.



Patented May l3, I902 F. E. VANDEBCOOK.

SHOE" LACING HOOK.

(Application filed. Oct. 17, 1901.

(No Model.)

INVEN Top In! 7171'1". Vanae rc 00k 4 TTORNEY6 n45 Mann's PETERS co.Puo'm'umm WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. VANDERCOOK, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOJOHN MEYER, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

SHOE-LACING HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,990, dated May 13,1902.

Application filed October 1'7, 1901. Serial No. 781967. (No model.)

Lacing Hooks, of which the following is aspecification. I

My invention relates to improvements in lacing-hooks around which a laceis drawn for securing together adjoining edges of a covering, and isparticularly designed for use upon shoes, whereby the same may be closedand secured together upon the foot of the wearer. v

The object of the invention is to provide a device whereby the throat ofthe hook is antomatically closed with the insertion of the lace, thuspreventing any engagement of said hook with the clothing of the wearer,as is the case with the majority of the lacing-hooks now employed uponshoes; further, to accomplish the above in a simple, inexpensive, andpractical way.

Upon the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,similar characters of reference indicate like or corresponding partsthroughout the several figures, and of which Figure 1 shows a sideelevation of a lacing hook made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2is a detached perspective view of my improved protector. Fig. 3 is aperspective View of the hook and protector illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 4is a detail perspective view of the protector designed to be made ofrubber tubing and applied similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

While the devices illustrated differ slightly in the matter-pf detail ofconstruction, yet the essential features thereof are common namely, thatof attaching the protector to the lower portion of thehook; further, inthat In the first three figuresof the drawings I have illustrated what Inow consider the most desirable construction, since it is simple andinexpensive to manufacture, may be used in connection with any of thehooks now upon the market, and will not require any special change forits use. The device,'as will be apparent, is designed to be made ofsheet metal 'and may be stamped out or struck up in two consecutiveoperations and afterward united with the hook when the latter is appliedto the shoe.

Referring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon thedrawings, A represents a lacing-hook which is designed after thosecommonly upon the market, consisting of a base eyeleting portion B and ahook portion C.

D indicates my protector as a Whole, which comprises a sheet-metal ringhaving a flexible tapering projection E from one edge thereof. Inmanufacturing this protector the central opening through the diskportion would be made of a size equal tothat of the eyelet of the hookover which it is placed, as shown in Figs. land 2, and so adjusted thatthe flexible extension thereof will substantially regis ter with theouter edge of the hook in a manner to form a guard for the same andprevent its catching or engaging anything With which it comes incontact. It will be obvious, of course, that the extension of thisprotector is sufficiently flexible to permit the lace to be drawn inagainst the shoulder of the hook, whereupon said extension will quicklysnap back to its normal position in line with the front edge of thehook, as will be apparent from Fig. 1. The above remarks concerning theoperation of this protector will equally apply to the construction shownin Fig. 4, wherein a rubber tubular device is illustrated and whichin'practice is attachedsimilar to the previously-described devices.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A shoe-lacing device comprising an eyelet and hook portion, aprotector made of flat spring material and secured to the base of saidhook and normally extending upward across the opening of the hook andhaving its rection with the insertion or removal of the endsubstantially at the edge of the hook and lace. designed toautomatically spring open or close Signed at Waterbury, in the county ofNew with the passage of the lace thereunder. Haven and State ofConnecticut, this 12th day 5 2. A protecting device for a shoe-lacing ofOctober, A. D. 1901.

hook conslstlngofa sheet-nictalring-hke part 7 FRANK E. VANDERCOOKhaving an upwardly-deflecting flexible extension fitted onto the baseportion of the hook \Vitnesses:

so that said extension will normally close the CHARLES E. MEIGS, 10month of the hook but will yield in either di- FREDK. M. PEASLEY.

